ear.
"Need incentive?" she
returns.
"Ouch." I cover my heart with my free
hand, playing it up.
She thumps my knee.
Then covers the spot with her palm,
rubbing softly. "How's your pain?"
"Nothing like before," I say, and it's
true. Today is about a normal day for me, and I intend to give our
match my best shot.
"You're not going to take it easy on
me? Now that you know?" I ask.
She scoffs. "You planning to take it
easy on me because I'm a girl?"
"'Course not."
She smiles at me. We're so
close. I really want to kiss her again, but I refrain. There are a
lot of other participants, senseis, and parents around. I don't want anyone to think
we've got funny business going on before the final
match.
"You know, most girls would be worried
about their boyfriend's ego. Maybe thinking they need to throw the
match so he would think he's the stronger partner."
I meant it as a joke, but there's a
minute hesitation before she comes back with a softly-spoken, "I'm
not like most girls."
I squeeze her waist. "I know. That's
why I lov…—like you so much."
I rush to cover my blunder. If Emily
has reservations about dating me, I don't want to declare that I
love her. It's been me pushing for this relationship the whole
time, but if she's not sure... And the fact that she's not inviting
me to this party is pretty conclusive.
I don’t think I can take a rejection if
I tell her how I really feel.
15 - Emily
Brett goes silent and even though we're
sitting close together, we’re suddenly disconnected.
But I'm not sure how to fix
it.
What I said is true. I'm not like most
girls.
I'm a Chaser.
And after seeing how my mom shut down
after my dad died, am I crazy to even consider a relationship with
Brett?
The usher waves to Brett and me, and we
stand. There is one more match before our final.
He is silent as we move to the warm-up
area and start stretching. I'm still warm from the match earlier,
limber and ready.
Only I don't know if I'm
ready.
What if Brett and I go forward with
this relationship, but me being a Chaser drives a wedge between
us—just like it has with my mom? After tonight, she won't be able
to stop me. I'm determined to talk to Uncle Felix tonight and get
him to agree to let me fight. Especially with the recent vamp
attack, we need more Chasers than ever to combat their
numbers.
It's life or death.
Do I dare have a boyfriend while I'm
trying to Chase?
I don't have a good answer. I feel just
like I did last night, riding on the back of his bike. I don't know
what I'm doing.
Finally, it’s time. We walk
side-by-side to the arena floor, then square off. The referee
reminds us of the match rules, and we knock fists.
He looks so serious, no trace of his
usual, jovial demeanor. Is he angry that I haven't invited him to
the party? Does he feel my hesitation about where this is
going?
The ref waves us into the match, and we
circle briefly before he strikes first with a quick jab. I block
and take a punch of my own, but he ducks it.
One corner of his mouth is drawn down
in a concentrated frown, and I find I miss the good-natured ribbing
he would normally be doing in one of our sparring
sessions.
I haven't promised him anything, but I
never really answered his earlier question, whether he could come
to the party if he wins the match.
He's fighting like I agreed, though.
Spinning, kicking, ducking to avoid my moves, grunting once when I
connect with his lower abs.
It's pretty sexy,
especially when I keep glimpsing his sweat-slicked chest beneath
his gi .
The ref calls the end of the first
round, and we step off the mat.
I glance back to see him toweling off.
I take a swig of water from my bottle, and it only reminds me of
the other day, when I shared his drink.
After sixty seconds, we settle back
into our starting positions. His eyes are intense, no longer
avoiding my gaze, but watching me. Asking a question? I can't
tell.
He comes after me with a vengeance. His
first lunge surprises me and knocks
"Need incentive?" she
returns.
"Ouch." I cover my heart with my free
hand, playing it up.
She thumps my knee.
Then covers the spot with her palm,
rubbing softly. "How's your pain?"
"Nothing like before," I say, and it's
true. Today is about a normal day for me, and I intend to give our
match my best shot.
"You're not going to take it easy on
me? Now that you know?" I ask.
She scoffs. "You planning to take it
easy on me because I'm a girl?"
"'Course not."
She smiles at me. We're so
close. I really want to kiss her again, but I refrain. There are a
lot of other participants, senseis, and parents around. I don't want anyone to think
we've got funny business going on before the final
match.
"You know, most girls would be worried
about their boyfriend's ego. Maybe thinking they need to throw the
match so he would think he's the stronger partner."
I meant it as a joke, but there's a
minute hesitation before she comes back with a softly-spoken, "I'm
not like most girls."
I squeeze her waist. "I know. That's
why I lov…—like you so much."
I rush to cover my blunder. If Emily
has reservations about dating me, I don't want to declare that I
love her. It's been me pushing for this relationship the whole
time, but if she's not sure... And the fact that she's not inviting
me to this party is pretty conclusive.
I don’t think I can take a rejection if
I tell her how I really feel.
15 - Emily
Brett goes silent and even though we're
sitting close together, we’re suddenly disconnected.
But I'm not sure how to fix
it.
What I said is true. I'm not like most
girls.
I'm a Chaser.
And after seeing how my mom shut down
after my dad died, am I crazy to even consider a relationship with
Brett?
The usher waves to Brett and me, and we
stand. There is one more match before our final.
He is silent as we move to the warm-up
area and start stretching. I'm still warm from the match earlier,
limber and ready.
Only I don't know if I'm
ready.
What if Brett and I go forward with
this relationship, but me being a Chaser drives a wedge between
us—just like it has with my mom? After tonight, she won't be able
to stop me. I'm determined to talk to Uncle Felix tonight and get
him to agree to let me fight. Especially with the recent vamp
attack, we need more Chasers than ever to combat their
numbers.
It's life or death.
Do I dare have a boyfriend while I'm
trying to Chase?
I don't have a good answer. I feel just
like I did last night, riding on the back of his bike. I don't know
what I'm doing.
Finally, it’s time. We walk
side-by-side to the arena floor, then square off. The referee
reminds us of the match rules, and we knock fists.
He looks so serious, no trace of his
usual, jovial demeanor. Is he angry that I haven't invited him to
the party? Does he feel my hesitation about where this is
going?
The ref waves us into the match, and we
circle briefly before he strikes first with a quick jab. I block
and take a punch of my own, but he ducks it.
One corner of his mouth is drawn down
in a concentrated frown, and I find I miss the good-natured ribbing
he would normally be doing in one of our sparring
sessions.
I haven't promised him anything, but I
never really answered his earlier question, whether he could come
to the party if he wins the match.
He's fighting like I agreed, though.
Spinning, kicking, ducking to avoid my moves, grunting once when I
connect with his lower abs.
It's pretty sexy,
especially when I keep glimpsing his sweat-slicked chest beneath
his gi .
The ref calls the end of the first
round, and we step off the mat.
I glance back to see him toweling off.
I take a swig of water from my bottle, and it only reminds me of
the other day, when I shared his drink.
After sixty seconds, we settle back
into our starting positions. His eyes are intense, no longer
avoiding my gaze, but watching me. Asking a question? I can't
tell.
He comes after me with a vengeance. His
first lunge surprises me and knocks
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